Low census participation in Texas

Arturo Gallardo, Melissa Renter?a - Conexi?n

Published
8:00 am CDT, Thursday, April 1, 2010

Texas lags behind most other states when it comes to returning census forms, causing concern among U.S. Census officials who are urging residents to return the completed questionnaires as soon as possible.

“Every household that fails to send back their census form by mail must be visited by a census taker starting in May — at a significant taxpayer cost. The easiest and best way to be counted in the census is to fill out and return your form by mail,” said Robert Groves, U.S. Census director.

As of March 30, 44 percent of Texans had mailed back their forms, the second-worst record of any state. Only Alaska, at 41 percent, ranked below Texas, which was tied with Mississippi, Louisiana and New Mexico.

Groves said he was concerned about the lagging returns in certain parts of Texas, including San Antonio, with a 42 percent return rate.

Census Day is April 1, the date listed on census forms as when the information listed takes effect. Some census officials speculate that residents are waiting until that date to fill out their forms, thinking that is when there are supposed to do it.

Some residents, particularly Hispanics, have been confused over the form’s questions on race and ethnicity. One of the shortest census questionnaires in history, the 2010 form has two questions regarding race and ethnicity, including one question specifically on Hispanic, Latino or Spanish heritage.

Some Latinos are unsure how to answer the question on race when they’ve already answered they’re Latino on a previous question, said Efren Salinas, a media specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau’s regional office in Texas.

“Our stance has always been not to tell people how to fill out the form. It’s about self-identification,” Salinas says, adding people can write in a response if they think an answer listed on the multiple-choice race question doesn’t apply to them.

Census forms were mailed March 15. In May, census takers are expected to begin visiting residences that did not return a form.
Residents who did not receive a form can call (866) 872-6868 (Spanish speakers can call (866) 928-2010) to request a questionnaire. Salinas said residents should hold off on their requests until April 12 to allow time for the forms to arrive.

“Whenever you have a massive mail out like this there’s always a chance for delays or forms getting lost in the mail,” he said.